With the start of the new swim season underway, the Kirkland Lake Aquatic Club Stingrays will be looking to make more waves this year. As they head into a new year, the ‘Rays will be experiencing some changes to the program, including a new head coach. The club’s executive hired Darryl Borland to lead the ‘Rays into the future. Borland is originally from Dundas but has lived in a number of places including Chicago. He says he chose to come to Kirkland Lake because of the small town atmosphere. “I like small towns. I have coached in big towns and in some small towns. It is a young club, developmental and hopefully I am going to get the kids into a position of moving up, slowly but in the right direction. They have a lot of time so that is great.” He adds the club has real potential to grow over the coming years. As for the new pool Borland seems impressed. “I like it. I like it a lot. I think it is really nicely done.” As for his philosophy towards coaching, Borland is very much focused on the technical side of the sport. “My philosophy comes from a background of a lot of technique work. Technique, technique, technique. At this age when the kids are young they are going to get some of the techniques and as they get older they will learn more. As a coach that is one of the things that I put forward, first and foremost, to have the kids learn proper technique.” He points out that if the kids do not how to learn to swim correctly when they are younger, then over the long haul they will develop bad habits. Borland adds he says he has a great executive and a great group of assistant coaches so things are very positive already and he is looking forward to the season.